NCJ Number
98653
Date Published
1984
Length
152 pages
Annotation
This study conducted in the early 1980's describes a California juvenile court's experiences with three community correction reforms, documents the 'net-widening' effect of these reforms, and draws implications for future policy and program evaluation.
Abstract
For each of the juvenile community correction reforms, the study gives equal consideration to the developmental background, the implementation, and the system impact. One reform assessed is the Boys' Treatment Center, established to provide a local alternative to State reformatories. The assessment concludes that the Boys' Center was implemented with multiple goals and multiple client targets that expanded the number and types of youth targeted for intervention ('net-widening'). Another reform, the probation subsidy program, provides locally administered intensive probation service alternatives for youths and adults formerly subject to institutionalization. As intensive probation services were implemented, youth not likely to have been previously institutionalized were included; thus, net-widening occurred. A third reform, the development of juvenile diversion programs, resulted in targeting for intervention juveniles who would previously not have been brought under the jurisdiction of juvenile justice authorities. The study concludes that (1) the implementation of reforms as supplements to, rather than alternatives to, previous court practice inevitably produces net-widening and (2) it is possible to evaluate a program's implementation to determine what it can and cannot do. Appendixes detail the study methodology. A bibliography with about 250 listings is provided.